Fwd: Press Release: MOSOP Protests The Murder of Barile Ikogbara

[Richard_Boele@bodyshop.co.uk (Richard Boele)]

  MOSOP Press Release
  
  MOSOP Vigorously Protests the Brutal Murder
  
  MOSOP vigorously protests the brutal murder of Mr.Barile Ikogbara by
  soldiers of the Rivers State Internal Security Task Force on Saturday 12th
  July 1997.  Mr Ikogbara of Luuyor-Gwara was killed at Saakpenwaa,
  headquarters of Tai Local Government Area,Saturday morning, when a soldier
  emerged from one of the buildings housing the Tai L.G.A. headquarters and
  shot at a moving passenger bus conveying Ogoni passengers from Port
  Harcourt some, of the allegation that the driver refused to pay the usual
  =N=20,00 at the road block.  Also shot were Mr. Baridi Kpoobe from Biara in
  Gokana L.G.A.and a lady,Miss Ledisi (surname not yet ascertained).  Both
  Mr. Baridi Kpoobe who was shot on his left shoulder and Miss Ledisi are in
  critical condition as they receive treatment at a private clinic at Biara
  Gokana.  The body of Late Mr. Barile Ikogbara is lying at Bori General
  Hospital Mortuary which is said to have already accumulated mortuary bill
  of =N=5,000.00., while Mr.Baridi Kpoobe who is recieving treatment at a
  private clinic at Biara is in a critical state and his chances of survival
  is very slim, according to eye witnesses, Miss Ledisi's case is also
  critical.
  
  MOSOP is alarmed by the spate of wanton killings of Ogoni people by troops
  of the Rivers State Internal Security Task Force.  It will be recalled that
  similar killings in the past went on unpunished and hence impetus to
  continue this worrisome trend of premediated murders of Ogoni people by the
  security forces.
  
  Such premediated killings of innocent Ogoni people by troops of the River's
  State Internal Security Task Force include: Mr. Samuel Asiga (Alias Kuti)
  of Mogho who was shot by soldiers along Afam road on his way to visit Ogoni
  detainees at Afam on the 11th February, this year, Mr.Luloo Lube from Yeghe
  was shot dead on 21st January also this year at Yeghe military road block.
  Chief S.K. Tgiidam a third class chief from Zaakpon in Khana LGA died on
  7th June, this year after a protracted illness following the torture he
  received from soldiers of the Internal Security Task Force on Ogoni day 4th
  Jan.1997.  Others are Master Tombari Deenu from Bera in Gokana LGA who was
  shot on 4the Jan. this year, only last week another unidentified Ogoni was
  shot dead along Oyigbo road.  The list of casulties of military brutality
  in Ogoni iis inexhausible.
  
  MOSOP is terribly worried by the increasing insecurity of the Ogoni people
  as they are daily slaughtered at the numerours military road blocks (they
  are eitht in number) that dot Ogoni routes.  More worrisome is the
  increasing confidence with which these soldiers kill with impunity boasting
  that they were sent to Ogoni to kill.
  
  MOSOP is inclined to ask how many more Ogoni will be murdered before the
  International community appreciates the enormity of the Ogoni situation and
  act decisively to redeem the remmant of the Ogoni population from the
  murderous grip of the Nigerian military government?  We hereby passionately
  appeal to the United Nations to come and rescue Ogoni people.
  
  MOSOP maintains that so long as the Major Obi Umahi led troops of the
  Internal Security Task Force remain in Ogoni with apparent instruction to
  shoot and kill, there can be no end to the daily slaughter of the Ogoni
  people and hence no peace in the area.  We consequently re-iterate our
  stand that any honest attempt at reconciliation and restoration of peace in
  Ogoni must begin with troops withdrawal from the area.  And that so long as
  Major Obi Umahi's killer squad is still stationed in Ogoni, killing any
  claim to peace and reconciliation in Ogoni is the height of criminal
  dishonesty.  No one should be deceived.
  
  
  
  
  18/7/97
  
  
  
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  Richard Boele
  Human Rights Campaigner
  Tel: 01903 731500 extn 7377
  Fax: 01903 844021
  
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  The Body Shop International Plc.  
  Tel: +44 1903 731500
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